OK Steve. Death is separation. The separation from God part seems to be the stickler. That is the muddy part.
Well, since the term "spiritual death" seems to be offensive to Shalom, and since those who have been talking about it have not agreed on a concise definition, that I can see, perhaps they should just try to say what they mean instead of using a term that probably means something different to each person involved in the discussion.
To Shalom, it obviously means something blasphemous, so whatever it means to him, is not what it means to anybody else.
To me - I'm trying to think if I've ever heard the term before, and don't recall.
In fact, the term sounds like it possibly qualifies as a full-blown oxymoron.
Death is separation
.(a) First death, to which we are all appointed, is separation of us from these physical bodies AND is followed by God's judgement.
.(b) Second death, is separation from God's glory, after having failed to be judged perfect.
.. (1)We only escape the second death, if we accept God's pardon for our sins through faith in Jesus Christ.
.. (2)Those who reject God's pardon, and those who are not eligible in the first place (fallen angels) pass from judgement to the second death, referred to as the bottomless pit, lake of fire, everlasting darkness.
.....(i)It is bottomless, because they have rejected the Foundation of foundations.
.....(ii)It is fiery torment, because they have rejected the comfort and healing that God offers for the source of their torment.
.....(iii)It is everlasting, because we too are spirit, made originally in God's image, everlasting.
.....(iiii)It is dark, (and alone) because it is separation from God's glory. To see anything or have any companionship would be to partake of God's glory, evidenced in all creation, to some degree.
Nobody comes back from second death, except Satan, who will be cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years earth time, then brought out for a short while, to tempt people on earth, then finally locked away again forever and ever in the bottomless pit.
I don't believe Jesus, after he died, went to the second death place. He went to judgement, which is what follows first death. He was, of course, judged sinless and without fault and therefore he did not go to the second death (death could not hold him).
The oxymoron aspect of "spiritual death" (if taken to mean separation from God) Scriptures tell us: (1)God is Spirit. (2)There is nowhere we can go, nowhere at all, where he is not present.
The second death will not be a place separate from God, because that is not possible. But God will be silent, unseen, unheard in any way or manifestation. It will be the worst possible case of not knowing what a person misses until it is gone.
If it were POSSIBLE to be separated, isolated, away from God's presence (completely), the place and condition of torment known as the second death comes the closest to it. I'd call it, "virtual separation" from God, a MOST unpleasant virtual reality...
God is not willing that anyone should perish in the second death. Anyone who wants to avoid it can do so by calling on the Lord Jesus, now, today, while there is time.
John |
